Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Best settings for hot water system thermostat

Hello,

I have a hot water radiator system in my house. I have a Lux thermostat, but since the system has only one zone, it is located downstairs in the living room (where they put it in the 1930s).

It is a programmable thermostat, and we have it set to turn on at 6am to 65 degrees, off at 730am to 60, on at 4pm to 65 and then down at 9pm to 63.

Overall not the hottest house on the block by any stretch. All the same, we usually have a very low heating bill, and dont use much gas. Happy us!

However, this month, we have a huge spike in our bill... $517 for a smaller 2-story 3-bedroom house with finished (insulated) attic. We are used to $100-175.

I set our thermostat to allow the house to have a temperature swing of 3 degrees before kicking the heater back on. THe default was 1 degree, and the system was cycling all the time. It made it too hot in the mornings for whatever reason. Allowing the temperature swing to be 3 degrees, according to the manual, saves energy as compared to faster cycling rates, and it made the house more comfortable upstairs.

But our use has skyrocketed compared to other years other Januarys, etc.

So what is the right setting for "temperature swing" of a thermostat?

Thanks!

JMH

Unless your gas rates are the same or close to the same, comparing dollars isn't a very good measurement. Check the actual useage (Therms, CCF, etc.). If the useage is way up, how has the weather been compared to years past? If the weather is about the same I suggest contacting the gas company. Maybe someone read the meter wrong or the reading was input to the billing computer incorrectly.

Usage was up proportionately... about 3x higher (??!?!?!!?)

Average temp for the month was 3 degrees lower than last year... not a heck of a lot. Dec. of 07 was colder than dec of 06 by a greater margin, and the use was not as severe.

But I did tweak the thermostat... which makes me wonder if I set it up to be really inefficient.

My enclosed porch is in a state of no ceiling, so it is effectively a chiller in the house. But it is closed off...

Thanks,

JMH

OK, we've ruled out major weather differences & a major rate change. How's the water usage? (possible leak in heating system)
Are there actual meter readings on the bill? If so, you might want to check the ending reading against what the meter is now reading. I think it's time to check with the gas company. They are in business to make money but are usually pretty helpful in cases like yours. There has to be some reason other than thermostats. Thermostat changes will make a difference but no where near 3x.

well, I verified the reading to be correct.

Thermostats changing may not be an issue, but incorrect settings certainly are a problem... but causing that much extra usage???

Ill have to discuss this with the gas company... can a gas meter gone bad read "fast"?

Ill also have to try to seal off my porch better, since it is effectively a draft (though even if I left the front door open, I cant imagine id triple my use...).

Thanks,

JMH

well, I verified the reading to be correct.

Chances are the meter may of been mis read the month before, and they caught it on this bill.. It has happend to me last year. I would wait one more bill and see what that comes back to.

I think the 3˚ swing is pretty large, not really a fan on those type of stat, where Honeywell uses avg cycle per hour. I know a few people has reported a savings in their gas bill with the Honeywell.

I would think the 3˚ swing would make the upstairs hotter.. (Longer run time)